Easy way to measure solar output (Amps)?
I tried measuring the circuit between my solar panel and the controller today, but couldn't get a reading. I was wondering, should a digital multimeter (I have a Fluke 115) be able to read small amou...
Forum Discussion
My old "shunt" type controller had steady readings until batteries got near full then the controller started controlling its output by the amps and voltage going up and down like crazy. Normal.
My "series" PWM controller is a little different where the voltage stays fairly steady but amps go up and down sometimes, haven't watched it enough to be clear how that goes for how it "controls"
Nothing wrong with using the 7-pin cord to get from controller to battery except there might be a voltage drop, but with only a 4a panel the amps won't be high enough to make much of a drop anyway
Smk, a member here, suggested using the 7-pin a while back and I did use that method for a while and it worked. I got full amps to the battery. I made up a special adapter using one of those connectors like on the truck. Our trailer even has a "battery" fuse on the 7-pin #4 pin wire so you get that too.
You can have the converter charging on shore power or generator and still be charging with solar. It depends on their respective charging voltages how their amps will get mixed or not at the battery, same as with any two chargers. They will add their amps best if their voltages are nearly the same.
My "series" PWM controller is a little different where the voltage stays fairly steady but amps go up and down sometimes, haven't watched it enough to be clear how that goes for how it "controls"
Nothing wrong with using the 7-pin cord to get from controller to battery except there might be a voltage drop, but with only a 4a panel the amps won't be high enough to make much of a drop anyway
Smk, a member here, suggested using the 7-pin a while back and I did use that method for a while and it worked. I got full amps to the battery. I made up a special adapter using one of those connectors like on the truck. Our trailer even has a "battery" fuse on the 7-pin #4 pin wire so you get that too.
You can have the converter charging on shore power or generator and still be charging with solar. It depends on their respective charging voltages how their amps will get mixed or not at the battery, same as with any two chargers. They will add their amps best if their voltages are nearly the same.
